Bradford Bulls boss Chris Caisley today sent the message to fans: "We're at Odsal to stay."

But he warned the Super League champions were not going to get a "spanking new stadium" overnight and improvements would take place slowly.

Mr Caisley spoke as the world champion club was poised to get a £4.6 million pay- off from Bradford Council to end a lease for the stadium which should have continued until 2019. The terms of the existing lease meant the Council would have to pay the club an indexed-linked £337,000 every year for the next 17 years.

The lease was agreed in 1986 and the annual sum has been paid ever since to the club which has been hoping for a multi-million stadium redevelopment for a decade. Leeds-based Sterling Capitol proposed a £60 million development for the run-down stadium but pulled out reluctantly two months ago after the Government announced it was pulling in the planning application for a public inquiry.

The Bulls had moved temporarily to Bradford City's Valley Parade ground, expecting to return to a world class stadium. After the plan collapsed Mr Caisley announced they were still going back to Odsal despite widespread speculation they would stay at Valley Parade.

He said today: "The fans have voted with their feet. And attendances were going down at Valley Parade. They want to come back to Odsal."

But Mr Caisley said the Bulls would also need substantial outside funding to carry out the improvements the stadium needed if they took the £4.6 million.

"There are a lot of details which still have to be agreed with the Council and the devil is in the detail. We have to make sure we can improve our position and advance the club in terms of getting outside funding."

The Council's executive committee will be asked to agree the settlement at a special meeting on Tuesday. Chief executive Ian Stewart will produce a report at the meeting explaining where the £4.6 million will come from, but the issue has already sparked controversy.

Labour group leader Councillor Ian Greenwood said yesterday he did not know how the Council could "spirit £4.6 million from the air".

But Council leader Councillor Margaret Eaton said: "This is contractual and is a legal commitment to the club. It is not money we are finding, it is something which already had to be paid."